Adventure Games At The E3 2005 – An Exclusive Sneak Peak – Article
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by Randy Sluganski |
ADVENTURE GAMES AT THE E3 2005 – AN EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEAK |
This year will probably feature the least amount of high-profile adventure games in the last 8 years that I’ve attended the E3, but there will also be more adventure developers in attendance than I can ever remember. So while they won’t be cloistered in over-priced E3 booths, we’ll be meeting in private with numerous developers anxious to get the word about their new games out to the adventure community.
We’ll have more information – such as publishers, release dates, screenshots and trailers – on all of the below games after the E3, but for now we just wanted to give you a taste of what to expect.
A Vampyre’s Story
Lucas Arts decision to quit making adventure games was, inadvertently, a stroke of good fortune for the adventure community. Now we have Bill Tiller developing A Vampyre’s Story, Dan Connors working on Bone and a few other as yet unannounced projects from former Lucas Arts talent.
A Vampyre’s Story follows the humorous trials and tribulations of an unhappy vampire. If the early screenshots are an indication, this has the makings of an immediate classic.
Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None
In the classic story ‘And Then There Were None’ 10 people, each with something to hide, are invited to a lonely mansion on Shipwreck Island by a host who fails to appear. They are cut off from everything but each other and the inescapable shadows of their own past lives. One by one, the guests share the darkest secrets of their wicked pasts. And one by one, they die…
Although the storyline stays true to the original concept, players will encounter new plot twists. The first comes in the form of an 11th character, the player, a boatman who brings the others to the island and then is trapped there himself. To save the lives of the intended victims, the player must unravel the motives behind the murders and uncover the identity of the killer. If successful, he will spare not only the lives of the remaining guests, but also his own.
Al Emmo & The Lost Dutchman’s Mine
We are currently playing a full version of this game and I can’t wait to meet the talented developers. Their previous efforts were the fantastic updates of King’s Quest 1 & 2 and with Al Emmo, Himalaya (formerly Tierra) has succeeded in recreating the feel and quality of Sierra. Even more amazing is that while Al Emmo & the Lost Dutchman’s Mine is a game I would gladly pay for at retail, it will be available for free on the internet.
Ankh
All Assil wanted was to enjoy the evening with his friends. He got into the new pyramid build by his father, gave a huge party and – got in serious trouble with the gods. Now he’s cursed and has got to find a way to get rid of this disgrace. In Ankh, the upcoming 3D adventure by German based Rebel Games, players help as they can: Elements of classic adventures await them in an exciting 3D world, designed and animated in state-of-the-art graphics. Animated with care to detail, new elements to experience are everywhere. Flags and trees in the wind and lots of other tiny elements in the beautiful surroundings are everywhere to see. This is just one detail of the exciting graphics of Ankh. Cinematic cutting scenes, designed by experts from the movie industry, are another example. But it’s not just the graphics: Of course, there are tons of exciting and mind-grapping, adventure-style riddles giving Ankh its unique charm and mood. Beginners as well as adventure experts will be fascinated by the emerging story plot. On the other hand, the simple and intuitive designed game play will allow everyone to jump right into the game.
Around the World in 80 Days
Frogwares is back with yet another game based on a Jules Verne classic novel. Early screenshots from Around the World in 80 Days look very promising and we’ll have more information on both this game and Frogwares’ new Sherlock Holmes game in just a few days.
Aura 2
You asked for it and The Adventure Company listened – a sequel to the popular Aura. Very little information is available at the moment, but look for lots of screenshots and some plot details in the upcoming days.
Bone
Travel to Boneville as you converse and interact with all your favorite characters from Jeff Smith’s Bone: Out From Boneville.
Telltale Games – a new company comprised of talented ex-LucasArts employees – promises to be the hot new developers of the year and Bone is already shaping up as a must-have game. We will be meeting with developer Dan Connors and will lots more material on Bone in the weeks ahead.
Dead Mountaineer’s Hotel
This game is based on the original story by the famous Russian science fiction authors – the Strugatsky brothers. Dead Mountaineer’s Hotel will feature a point-and-click interface in 3D. The gameplay is based on the ‘living world’ concept. The characters have their own activities in the game world and they won’t stand still waiting for the player to approach even if they have some business with them. The hotel is inhabited by 15 characters each with different stories and unique personalities conforming their prototypes from the true spirit of the Strugatsky brother’s original story.
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
A sequel to one of the best adventure games of all-time, Dreamfall will be released for PC and Xbox and feature (prepare for p.r. hype) “three distinctively different playable characters and exciting action-adventure game play, wrapped in a mature, exhilarating and innovative storyline. Prepare for an epic, emotional and visually stunning journey.” You can read our pre-E3 preview here.
Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern
Kheops is quickly building a reputation for quality games and early screenshots from Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern also look promising.
Delve into a world of exploration and intrigue as you embark on a quest filled with puzzles and mystery. Use your wits and powers of observation to survive the vast wilderness as your journey leads you to one of mankind’s forgotten wonders.
Experience your adventure through the eyes of Arok and meet many fascinating characters. Contend with the wild world where fishing, hunting, gathering, and mysterious shamanist ceremonies are all part of the struggle for survival as you unravel the secrets of the lost cavern.
Also featured is an integrated encyclopedia filled with historically accurate data on the Paleolithic period. Pristine photo-realistic graphics and environments including rivers, troglodyte caves, and green valleys, will take players back to the dawn of human existence.
Fatal Frame 3: The Curse of the Tattoo
Tecmo’s popular survival horror game (with strong adventure elements) is back for a third installment this Halloween. This time you play as Rei Kurosawa, a young woman mourning the death of her fiancée in a car crash. Overcome with guilt and pain, Rei sets off on a terrifying journey to the House of Sleep where “her nightmares become reality and finding the truth is the only way out.” Solve the mystery of the Curse of the Tattoo by once again using the Camera Obscura to stop evil from developing. The previous Fatal Frame games have received rave reviews at Just Adventure and we expect this one to be just as horrific.
In this sequel to The Westerner (aka Wanted: A Wild Western Adventure), Revistronic is aiming for a more mature and even tougher aspect, with an atmosphere and a script more in the line of the acclaimed spaghetti westerns. There will be more shooting sequences, using the mouse, and an increase in the action which will make the game even more exciting, although without giving up the unmistakable adventurous style and the use of 3D point & click. Gone will be the childish aspect of the characters and the caricatured humour of the previous deliveries, as we accentuate the sarcasm and the hardness of their expressions and actions. Even if Rhiannon and Fenimore, are changing so much in their physical aspect, the player will be always able to recognize them as The Westerner‘s main characters and their personality will become rougher and more mature.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Players assume the role of Detective Robert Goren to investigate four new murder cases. Scour crime scenes for evidence, interview witnesses and interrogate suspects as you track down killers. Featuring voices and likenesses from members of the show’s cast, this third-person adventure game will have you believing you stepped into the show.
Lost Paradise
This game is the first from White Bird Productions, a company formed by some high-profile ex-Microids staff and Benoit Sokal, he of Syberia fame. White Bird does not have an official booth at E3, but we are meeting with them in private and have been informed that they have some good news.
Metronome
Metronome promises to be an innovative and next generation adventure gaming where the use of sound is your both your ally and weapon (ala Loom). Fantastic graphics in a world populated with bizarre characters and dark humor could push this currently unknown title to sleeper status.
Myst V
The best-selling adventure franchise of all-time is back for a fifth and, possibly, last installment. Not much information has yet to be revealed, but we’re meeting with Myst creator Rand Miller and you just know we’re going to trick him into revealing some top-secret information!
Nancy Drew Secret of the Old Clock
Nancy Drew goes retro as her latest game takes place during its original publishing date in the 1930’s. Her Interactive always has lots of screenshots and background material for Just Adventure at the E3, so tune in later for an update.
Perplex City
Perplex City is marketing itself as the largest and most ambitious Alternate Reality Game ever constructed. The game blends a global treasure with compelling puzzles across a wide range of media including mysterious websites, cryptic billboards, mobile phones, magazine advertisements, actors, skywriters and real life events. We’ll let you know if these promises are realistic or just wishful thinking.
RHEM 2
Got Game Entertainment and Knut Mueller are back with a sequel to the Myst-clone RHEM. The only information we have at the moment is some new screenshots, but we should have an update for you soon.
Runaway 2
Another sequel, this time to the critically acclaimed Spanish-developed Runaway. Brian and Gina are back for more adventures, more hair-raising danger and more last minute escapes. Will Brian ever return to college? Will Gina’s clothes get skimpier as the game progresses? Be here next week as we answer those and other burning questions.
Tony Tough 2: A Rake’s Progress
This sequel to the humorous Tony Tough & the Night of Roasted Moths features a classic point-and-click interface with modern 3D characters in beautifully rendered backgrounds. Dark humor and a more adult approach should attract a wider audience. You can follow the progress of Tony Tough 2 at our exclusive Developer’s Journal.
